A Music-related blog containing information and commentary of my favorite music, as well as some choice downloads of quality, hard-to-find music (unofficial releases, ROIO's, concert bootlegs, etc.) available on the web.

Here, finally, is the best version available of this historic one-time concert event. For those that don't know, this is the reunion concert that took place in 1982 to help Peter get out of debt after financing the W.O.M.A.D. concert event held earlier that year. His former bandmates came to his aid and we are left with this performance. Although the band did not have a lot of time to practice before the concert and it is noticeable in some parts, this remains a unique and historic concert event. It is still the only concert performance with all members from the classic early '70's lineup present. Unfortunately, the available recordings are not the greatest quality (generally mediocre, partial audience recordings). However, this is by far the best available recorded document of the event. TM productions has consistently produced the best quality Genesis bootlegs, and they have thoroughly cleaned up and remastered the available tapes from this concert, resulting in a very good quality recording. I have 3 other recorded versions of this concert, and this is, by far, the best version available. I had been looking for this one for quite awhile. Thanks to Dave at Quality Boots for recently making this available.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Band (and numerous guests)1976-11-25Winterland, San Francisco, CAThe Complete Last Waltz Bootleg (4-CDs)
Raw soundboard recordings (no overdubs), very good quality
Artwork included

New upgraded quality!
Now available in Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions
New links available (updated 04/26/15)

Here it is, The Complete Last Waltz Bootleg, the raw, unmixed, unretouched soundboard tapes of the entire concert from that historic Thanksgiving Day (11/25/76) Show. This is the only recorded version that includes the entire concert from start to finish, and presents the show as a concert experience, rather than as an album experience. Yes, there is an official release that presents an expanded version of the concert (2002, Rhino, 4-CD Box Set), that includes several songs not originally included in the film or the original 3-LP or 2-CD releases, but it still leaves out several songs, and does not present all the songs in the actual concert order (The official expanded set fills up the 4th CD with rehearsal session takes and additional studio film music, rather than all songs from the concert). Also, the sound is vastly different on the bootleg from both the original and remastered expanded official releases. Don't get me wrong, the 4-disc Rhino release is exquisite and I heartily recommend it to all fans of the Band. Please, Go buy it. That project was meticulously remastered, crafted, and overseen by the perfectionist Robbie Robertson himself, and it sounds great!. But they also redubbed or overdubbed parts that were not clear, edited some of the songs, removed much of the crowd noise, etc. to create the best sound possible. What this bootleg version gives you is the actual concert experience, what it was like to have been there for the event itself, even with some sound limitations and mistakes (crowd noise, some instruments lost in the mix, or sloppy playing, etc. But it is still a fine sounding soundboard recording). I think both the expanded official release and this bootleg version are must-have for serious fans. Thus, this version is decidedly different from any official releases and does not infringe upon them. For a complete description of the differences between the official releases and this bootleg (and why you should get both), see This article from The Band's website (http://theband.hiof.no/articles/tlw_katz.html) and this article (http://theband.hiof.no/albums/complete_last_waltz.html) for a fuller description of this bootleg.

Just found this great boot of The Band of shows from December 1971 & a rehearsal session as well. Great Stuff. Reminded me of how much I like these guys. Note: Big thanks to Strawdog at Dinostunz for this one! Will post some more from The Band soon.

2-CD Band bootleg issued in 2000 (Wild Wolf Label), with tracks from 1971 live recordings and rehearsal tapes. All previously unreleased/ uncirculated.

Incredible 33-track, superb quality from master reel sources. A fab Wild Wolf set with 25 previously unreleased/uncirculating performances from the NY City, Academy of Music, December 28-31, 1971/72 gigs that spawned "Rock of Ages" - but with no overlap from that official release.
Plus a terrific 8-song rehearsal from UltraSonic Studios, Long Island, in Dec 1971, also uncirculating & in primo sound.
An absolute knockout 155+ minutes and an instant Hall-of-Famer.

Disc 1: Academy of Music:
1. Cripple Creek
2. The Shape I'm In
3. The Rumor
4. Time to Kill
5. Strawberry Wine
6. Rockin' Chair
7. This Wheel's On Fire
8. Get Up Jake
9. Smoke Signal
10. I Shall Be Released
11. The Weight
12. Stage Fright
13. Life Is A Carnival
14. King Harvest
15. Caledonia Mission
16. WS Walcott Medicine Show
17. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
18. Across the Great Divide

About This Blog

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